What Is God Like To You

I found out that how I pictured God made a lot of difference in my life. I summarized its impact on me in the poem below.

How Is Your God Like

I always had a hard time being happy

Always forlorn and guilty

Until I found out my image of God

Was making me sick and sad

I used to picture him as a Santa Claus

Rewarding me with a bike

If my actions he liked

Dumping me on the side

If my actions began to slide

Through the years I found

The God I pictured should not be that of that guy who is jolly and round

But more like a good mother or a best friend

Who loves me unconditionally to the end

Whether I am good or bad

Whether I make her proud or sad

This God will be at my side

Happy to rejoice or help me if I need a guide

I no longer wake up scared
Of the day ahead 

That I will displease and get punished

Or go to bed feeling admonished

I now start the day not blue

But confident my loving God will help me through

Not abandon me when I fail and fall 

But patiently pick me up and guide me to again stand tall

At night I no longer feel rueful

But feeling hopeful and grateful

Because I change my God

To one who loves me good or bad

Who is at my side

Come high or low tide.